← Group B (Gazetted)
Past Questions
India was ranked ________ in UN Human Development Index 2021
A)
132
B)
123
C)
143
D)
124
According to the Human Development Report 2021-22 released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), India was ranked 132nd out of 191 countries with an HDI value of 0.633. This was a slight decline from its 2020 rank of 131. The other options (123, 124, and 143) are incorrect as they do not represent India's actual ranking in the 2021 index.
Who started and inaugurated the Ramakrishna Mission?
A)
Raja Rammohun Roy
B)
Keshub Chandra Sen
C)
Swami Vivekananda
D)
Swami Dayanand Saraswati
Swami Vivekananda founded and inaugurated the Ramakrishna Mission on May 1, 1897, naming it after his spiritual guru, Ramakrishna Paramahansa. The mission's core philosophy is based on Vedanta and selfless service to humanity. Other options are incorrect because: (a) Raja Rammohun Roy founded the Brahmo Samaj in 1828; (b) Keshub Chandra Sen was a prominent leader of the Brahmo Samaj who later established the Brahmo Samaj of India; and (d) Swami Dayanand Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj in 1875.
India has been dubbed a ‘tested friend’ by
A)
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka
B)
Prime Minister Hassanal Bolkia, Brunei
C)
Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, Nepal
D)
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh
The correct option is (a). During his state visit to India in February 2020, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa described India as a 'tested friend' and Sri Lanka's closest neighbor, emphasizing the long-standing historical, cultural, and bilateral relations between the two countries. While other leaders like Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (d) have referred to India as a 'true friend' or 'trusted partner' (particularly in the context of the 1971 Liberation War), and leaders of Brunei (b) and Nepal (c) maintain friendly relations, the specific designation of India as a 'tested friend' in this widely-cited diplomatic context is attributed to Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The first two women graduates of Calcutta University were;
A)
Sarojini Naidu and Mahaleshwar Rani
B)
Maharani Biwani and Nirmala Chattarjee
C)
Sujata Sharma and Kanta Kumari
D)
Chandramukhi Basu and Kadambini Ganguly
Chandramukhi Basu and Kadambini Ganguly were the first two female graduates of Calcutta University, receiving their Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees in 1883. They were also the first female graduates in India and the entire British Empire. The other options (a, b, and c) are incorrect because they list individuals who were either not associated with this historical milestone or, like Sarojini Naidu, achieved prominence in different fields and studied elsewhere later in history.
Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot during his election campaign in which city?
A)
Shikoku
B)
Nara
C)
Kinki
D)
Chubu
Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated on July 8, 2022, while delivering a campaign speech near Yamato-Saidaiji Station in the city of Nara. The other options are incorrect because Shikoku (a) is one of the four main islands of Japan, Kinki (c) is a region (also known as Kansai) in Honshu, and Chubu (d) is a central region of Honshu; none of these are cities.
The Serum Institute of India (SII) and Department of Biotechnology (DBT) launched an indigenously developed quadrivalent Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine for the prevention of which disease?
A)
Monkey pox
B)
Cervical cancer
C)
Pneumonia
D)
Rubella
The correct option is 'b' (Cervical cancer). The Serum Institute of India (SII) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) launched 'CERVAVAC', India's first indigenously developed quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus (qHPV) vaccine. This vaccine is specifically designed to prevent cervical cancer, which is primarily caused by persistent infection with high-risk types of Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
Why other options are incorrect:
- 'a' (Monkey pox): Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease prevented by vaccines like JYNNEOS, not HPV vaccines.
- 'c' (Pneumonia): Pneumonia is a lung infection prevented by vaccines such as the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV).
- 'd' (Rubella): Rubella (German measles) is prevented by the MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccine.
Who first proposed the idea of a separate Muslim Nation called Pakistan?
A)
Sayed Ahmad Khan
B)
Muhammad Ali Jinnah
C)
Nawab Salimullah Khan
D)
Rahamat Ali
Choudhry Rahmat Ali first proposed the idea of a separate Muslim nation and coined the name 'Pakistan' (originally 'Pakstan') in his famous 1933 pamphlet titled 'Now or Never; Are We to Live or Perish Forever?'. Muhammad Ali Jinnah (Option b) was the leader who successfully led the movement for the creation of Pakistan, but he did not originate the name or the initial concept. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan (Option a) formulated the Two-Nation Theory but did not propose a separate country named Pakistan. Nawab Salimullah Khan (Option c) was instrumental in founding the All-India Muslim League in 1906 but was not associated with the proposal of Pakistan.
Africa adopted a regional strategy to address serious non-communicable diseases at the 72nd session of the Regional Committee of the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) held in Lomé, Togo called the
A)
ONE-PLUS strategy
B)
Health Forward strategy
C)
PEN-PLUS strategy
D)
GENESIS
The correct option is 'c' (PEN-PLUS strategy). During the 72nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa held in Lomé, Togo in August 2022, African health ministers adopted the 'PEN-PLUS' strategy (Package of Essential Noncommunicable Disease Interventions - Plus). This regional strategy is designed to address severe, chronic non-communicable diseases (such as sickle cell disease, type 1 diabetes, and rheumatic heart disease) by improving outpatient care at first-level referral health facilities. The other options ('ONE-PLUS strategy', 'Health Forward strategy', and 'GENESIS') are incorrect as they do not represent the official strategy adopted at this session.
Choose the correct classification of the adverb: I have heard this before.
A)
Adverb of manner
B)
Adverb of place
C)
Adverb of time
D)
Adverb of degree
In the sentence 'I have heard this before', the word 'before' is an adverb of time because it answers the question 'when' the action of hearing took place. Option 'a' (Adverb of manner) is incorrect because it describes how an action is done. Option 'b' (Adverb of place) is incorrect because it indicates where an action occurs. Option 'd' (Adverb of degree) is incorrect because it specifies the intensity or extent of an action or adjective.
Choose the correct clause from the given options: Will you wait till I return?
A)
Adverb clause
B)
Noun clause
C)
Adjective clause
D)
None of these
In the sentence 'Will you wait till I return?', the clause 'till I return' modifies the verb 'wait' by indicating the time of the action. Since it answers the question 'wait until when?', it functions as an adverb of time, making it an Adverb clause. It is not a Noun clause because it does not act as a subject or object, nor is it an Adjective clause because it does not modify a noun or pronoun.
Choose the correct classification of the adverb: Order the carriage round.
A)
Adverb of negation
B)
Adverb of time
C)
Adverb of frequency
D)
Adverb of place
In the sentence 'Order the carriage round', the word 'round' functions as an adverb modifying the implied action of bringing the carriage. It answers the question 'where?' (i.e., to a specific location or nearby place), which makes it an Adverb of Place. Option 'a' (negation) is incorrect because 'round' does not deny or negate an action. Option 'b' (time) is incorrect because it does not state when the action occurs. Option 'c' (frequency) is incorrect because it does not indicate how often the action happens.
Choose the correct form of verb: This paper _____ twice weekly.
A)
is appearing
B)
will appears
C)
appearing
D)
appears
The phrase 'twice weekly' indicates a regular schedule or habitual action, which requires the Simple Present tense. Since the subject 'This paper' is singular (third-person), the correct verb form is 'appears'.
- Option 'a' ('is appearing') is incorrect because the present continuous tense is used for temporary actions happening right now, not regular schedules.
- Option 'b' ('will appears') is grammatically incorrect because the modal verb 'will' must be followed by the base form of the verb ('appear').
- Option 'c' ('appearing') is incorrect because a present participle (-ing form) cannot function as the main verb of a sentence without an auxiliary verb (like 'is').
Fill in the blank with the correct option: A _____ of wheat.
A)
bunch
B)
stack
C)
sheaf
D)
bundle
The correct collective noun for wheat is 'sheaf'. A 'sheaf of wheat' refers to a bundle of grain stalks that have been cut and bound together. Other options are incorrect because: 'bunch' is typically used for grapes, bananas, or keys; 'stack' is used for hay, wood, or paper; and 'bundle' is a general term for items tied together (like sticks or laundry) but is not the specific, traditional collective noun for wheat.
Choose the correct classification of the adverb: He always tries to do his best.
A)
Adverb of manner
B)
Adverb of frequency
C)
Adverb of degree
D)
Adverb of time
In the sentence 'He always tries to do his best', the adverb is 'always'. This is classified as an Adverb of Frequency because it answers the question 'how often' an action occurs (i.e., how often does he try? Always).
- Option A (Adverb of manner) is incorrect because it describes 'how' an action is done (e.g., quickly, carefully).
- Option C (Adverb of degree) is incorrect because it indicates the intensity or extent of something (e.g., extremely, very).
- Option D (Adverb of time) is incorrect because it specifies 'when' an action takes place (e.g., yesterday, tomorrow, now), whereas 'always' specifically denotes the frequency of the action.
Fill in the blank with the correct option: The Latin words per centum means _____.
A)
per year
B)
by the hundred
C)
per day
D)
by itself
The Latin phrase 'per centum' translates literally to 'by the hundred' (where 'per' means 'by' or 'through' and 'centum' means 'hundred'). This phrase is the origin of the English word 'percent'.
- Option 'a' (per year) is incorrect because 'per year' in Latin is 'per annum'.
- Option 'c' (per day) is incorrect because 'per day' in Latin is 'per diem'.
- Option 'd' (by itself) is incorrect because 'by itself' in Latin is 'per se'.
Substitute the underlined phrase to improve the sentence if necessary: We should take up the first item, let us begin this song.
A)
this song begin us
B)
us began with this song
C)
us begin with this song
D)
No improvement
The correct phrase is 'us begin with this song'. The phrasal verb 'begin with' is used to indicate the starting point of an activity or sequence (e.g., starting the items with a song). Option (b) is grammatically incorrect because 'let' must be followed by the bare infinitive ('begin'), not the past tense ('began'). Option (a) is nonsensical, and option (d) is incorrect because 'begin with' is the standard idiomatic expression required here.
Choose the appropriate word/phrase to fill in the blank: _____ efforts from all concerned are required to raise the social and economic condition of our countrymen.
A)
Perpetual
B)
Massive
C)
Dynamic
D)
Penetrative
The correct option is 'b' (Massive). 'Massive' means large-scale, immense, or huge. Raising the social and economic conditions of a country is a monumental task that requires a large-scale, intensive collective effort, making 'massive efforts' the most appropriate and idiomatic collocation in this context. 'Perpetual' (never-ending) does not capture the scale of effort needed; 'Dynamic' (energetic/changing) is less suitable for describing the volume of effort required; and 'Penetrative' (piercing/entering) is contextually irrelevant.
Fill in the blank with the correct option: Beneath the rose lies the _____.
A)
thorn
B)
worm
C)
serpent
D)
bud
The correct answer is 'serpent'. The complete proverb is 'Beneath the rose lies the serpent', which means that hidden beneath a beautiful, pleasant, or attractive exterior, there may lie danger, deceit, or evil.
- Option 'a' (thorn) is incorrect because the standard proverb involving thorns is 'Every rose has its thorn' or 'There is no rose without a thorn'.
- Options 'b' (worm) and 'd' (bud) are incorrect as they do not form any recognized idiomatic expressions or proverbs in this context.
Analyze the sentence and choose the correct option: I know what his address is.
A)
Simple sentence
B)
Complex sentence
C)
Compound sentence
The sentence 'I know what his address is' is a complex sentence. A complex sentence consists of one independent clause and at least one dependent (subordinate) clause. Here, 'I know' is the independent clause, and 'what his address is' is a dependent noun clause functioning as the direct object of the verb 'know'. Option 'a' (Simple sentence) is incorrect because a simple sentence contains only one independent clause with no dependent clauses. Option 'c' (Compound sentence) is incorrect because a compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (such as and, but, or) or a semicolon.
Choose the correct form of verb: He _____ out five minutes ago.
A)
has gone
B)
went
C)
had gone
D)
is going
The correct option is 'b' (went). The sentence contains the time marker 'five minutes ago', which refers to a specific completed time in the past. In English grammar, specific past time expressions (such as 'ago', 'yesterday', 'last week') require the Simple Past tense. Therefore, 'went' is the correct verb form. Option 'a' (has gone) is incorrect because the Present Perfect tense cannot be used with specific past time markers. Option 'c' (had gone) is incorrect because the Past Perfect tense is used to describe an action completed before another past action. Option 'd' (is going) is incorrect because the Present Continuous tense refers to ongoing actions in the present.
Fill in the blank with the appropriate preposition: Ram was beaten _____ by Mohan for no reason.
A)
before
B)
down
C)
up
D)
over
The correct phrasal verb to use here is 'beat up', which means to physically assault or strike someone repeatedly. Therefore, 'up' (option c) is the correct preposition to complete the sentence 'Ram was beaten up by Mohan'. Other options are incorrect because: 'beat down' (option b) means to discourage, defeat, or force a price down; 'beat over' (option d) and 'beat before' (option a) do not form standard phrasal verbs that fit the context of physical assault.
Identify the part of speech of the underlined word: She arrived soon after.
A)
Verb
B)
Conjunction
C)
Adverb
D)
Adjective
In the sentence 'She arrived soon after', the word 'after' functions as an adverb meaning 'afterward' or 'at a later time'. It modifies the verb 'arrived' by indicating when the action took place.
- **Why other options are incorrect:**
- **Verb (a):** 'after' does not express an action or state of being.
- **Conjunction (b):** A conjunction connects words, phrases, or clauses (e.g., 'after she arrived, we left'). Here, 'after' does not connect any clauses.
- **Adjective (d):** An adjective modifies a noun, but 'after' is not describing any noun in this sentence.
Choose the correct clause from the given options: They went where living was cheaper.
A)
Adverb clause
B)
Noun clause
C)
Adjective clause
D)
None of these
The clause 'where living was cheaper' is an adverb clause (specifically, an adverb clause of place) because it modifies the verb 'went' by indicating the location of the action. It answers the question 'Where did they go?'. Option 'b' (Noun clause) is incorrect because the clause does not function as a noun (subject or object). Option 'c' (Adjective clause) is incorrect because there is no antecedent noun or pronoun being modified by this clause.
Analyze the sentence and choose the correct answer: Man is not immortal.
A)
Negative
B)
Affirmative
C)
Superlative
D)
Comparative
The sentence 'Man is not immortal.' is a negative sentence because it contains the negative particle 'not', which negates the proposition. Therefore, option 'a' (Negative) is correct. Option 'b' (Affirmative) is incorrect because an affirmative sentence expresses a positive statement without negation (e.g., 'Man is mortal'). Options 'c' (Superlative) and 'd' (Comparative) are incorrect because they refer to degrees of comparison for adjectives, which is not the grammatical classification of this sentence structure.
Analyze the sentence and choose the correct option: You should work hard so that you can achieve your goal.
A)
Simple sentence
B)
Complex sentence
C)
Compound sentence
The given sentence is a complex sentence because it consists of one independent clause and one dependent clause. 'You should work hard' is the independent clause, and 'so that you can achieve your goal' is the dependent (subordinate) clause introduced by the subordinating conjunction 'so that'. Option 'a' is incorrect because a simple sentence contains only one independent clause. Option 'c' is incorrect because a compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses joined by coordinating conjunctions (like and, but, or), not subordinating conjunctions.